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Bought this car for 2 grand over the summer. Sold my Volvo for this car. Got a really lucky pick. When I bought it, it had an aftermarket stereo, brand new monroe shocks, magnaflow, new alternator and ignition system.
When I bought it, I did the following:
- New cooling system (radiator, water pump, hoses, gaskets)
- Valve cover gasket
- Four new tires
- Steering link
- T-top bag
- Brand new decals all around (car only had one gray bird)
- New centercaps
I hope to
- Paint it
- Remove minor dents
- Upgrade braking system
- When the 305 goes swap in a 350
- Redo the seats (in good shape, small tears)
It is also equipped with Red and Blue lights for the Fire Department for me to get to the department quicker when there is a page.
The only wiring would be behind the rear plastic near the hatch motor. Should have contact points that make contact to a striker setup on the hatch and then the power is transferred thru a metal strap that was fused to the glass on each side of the car. Not much "wiring" on the hatch itself.
If they removed it then they had to swap out the hatch from a pre 86 car. Because otherwise there would be two holes in the hatch where it mounts.
Looks like a nice car for the 2k you paid. Your allowed to have the emergency lights even though your not a cop? I'm pretty sure that's illegal here in Illinois (of course what isn't illegal here). I friends who have got in trouble for installing red and blue lights when they were with the county fire departments and trying to get to calls faster.
The only wiring would be behind the rear plastic near the hatch motor. Should have contact points that make contact to a striker setup on the hatch and then the power is transferred thru a metal strap that was fused to the glass on each side of the car. Not much "wiring" on the hatch itself.
If they removed it then they had to swap out the hatch from a pre 86 car. Because otherwise there would be two holes in the hatch where it mounts.
Looks like a nice car for the 2k you paid. Your allowed to have the emergency lights even though your not a cop? I'm pretty sure that's illegal here in Illinois (of course what isn't illegal here). I friends who have got in trouble for installing red and blue lights when they were with the county fire departments and trying to get to calls faster.
Oh I guess not then. I thought the third brake light on these year models were on the hatch on the outside? Or maybe you are referring to the tail mounted one. Either way I'm not too sure. The only strange place is the top of the hatch where it looks almost like a defrost mechanism wiring.
And here in Texas Firefighters responding to emergencies are allowed to run Red and blue lights going to the station. I just have a bar on my windshield. Which also helps preserve the cars look
What exactly is so hideous about the 3rd brake light.??
You have a gorgeous car manta, but the third brake light on 86s completely disrupts the lines of the car. Like a mole with a little hair sticking out of it on super hot chick's face.
That's just my opinion though; I'm a picky individual.
I really like the looks of the 86' third brake light. It also gives it a little bit of special aspect being one year only. I however hate seeing a car. Really any model but specifically thirdgens. That have a nonfunctional third brake light. It drove me nuts when mine wasn't working due to a miss aligned contact tab for the power going to it.
Now if I want to talk about things that stand out on my car it would be the annoying tabs that are still present for the nonexistent wrap around spoiler that a previous owner swapped in place with one of the non wrap around spoilers.
Whoever changed it,did the glass.That's all you need to do,no need to be removing any wires etc.
As far as the 86 having the 3rd brake light were it is,It's unique to the year.It's about the only 3rd gen you can pic right out without guessing what year it is.Personally,I like it.
As far as the 86 having the 3rd brake light were it is,It's unique to the year.It's about the only 3rd gen you can pic right out without guessing what year it is.Personally,I like it.
I agree, I like the fact we have the one year wonder. Makes it rough finding a set of rear louvers though.
Do have an update:
Since I was put in charge of starting the first ever on campus car show at my college I wanted to fix it up a bit.
-Ordered new front seats that match the original from classic
-Buying parts to route a cold air intake this weekend
-some small cosmetic work
Not sure if it is clear in the pictures but the bumper doesn't exactly. Arch up to the body. And it's never been wrecked. Just one peice is bowed. May look into that this weekend.
I also plan on painting the ttop putter metal as its starting to get bare.
Luckily my girlfriend has a softball game in El paso so I can go there and go to an actual part store
Pictures to come. Of the car show as well hopefully!
Do have an update:
Since I was put in charge of starting the first ever on campus car show at my college I wanted to fix it up a bit.
-Ordered new front seats that match the original from classic
-Buying parts to route a cold air intake this weekend
-some small cosmetic work
Not sure if it is clear in the pictures but the bumper doesn't exactly. Arch up to the body. And it's never been wrecked. Just one peice is bowed. May look into that this weekend.
I also plan on painting the ttop putter metal as its starting to get bare.
Luckily my girlfriend has a softball game in El paso so I can go there and go to an actual part store
Pictures to come. Of the car show as well hopefully!
Should have waited!!!
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The owner I bought it from was a car enthusiast but wanted to sell this car because he's into new cars like Challengers and Mustangs (and it needed 3k worth of work)
So I imagine when the brake light went out he couldn't find it at an AutoZone or online very easily so just removed it. Which is fine by me. I finally found one yesterday but I believe it is missing a few parts, so 85 styled it stays.
This was the bumper I was talking about:
It lines up great on the other side and the hood a bit (mostly from a warped hood) but this little part bugs me.
I also noticed the alternator sitting about 13 volts driving and drop down to 10 when the car is idling for a while (which I assume is normal). The car had a system in it before I bought it which was removed. So hopefully there are no wires sitting around drawing extra power. Don't feel like pulling the stereo
Here are some interior pics as well
These were older pics when I bought the car because the seats have gotten worse since it is a daily. I did buy the seatbelt retainer for the headrest and I bought floormats from classic: http://www.classicindustries.com/pro...ts/f74002.html
I preferred these ones over the factory because it matches Pontiacs red gauge colors and the look much nicer IMO
You may be surprised at how long the 305 will last. I've heard of them going well over 200k miles. I know that when I'm cruising down the freeway, the engine is turning about 2100rpm. So it's not like it is working hard. I'm sure you could kill it if you tried, but if taken care of, it should give miles of service.
Had to post this.. Just got back from a fire call and a storm rolled in, I got a shot with my car with lightning in the background and a reflection of lightning on the windshield!
The lightning messed up the color of the shot though
Nice to see another 86! Glad you're enjoying working on its "transformation."
Sometimes I like my 3rd brake light, sometimes I don't. You're not missing out
Thank you!
Unfortunately most of the planned upgrades are going in slowly. Just had a set back that almost made me consider selling it. Hopefully soon I can have it back to perfect mechanical condition. And I prefer without lol.
I prefer missing my high mount, makes it feel more vintage lol
Thanks for the comments! I wanted to add this post for anyone looking at typical repairs on the car.
At the time of this post I have around 133k on the od. I bought it with 124k. I go to college four hours away from my home town so I do like to travel. Here is a list of repairs I have made SINCE PURCHASE. (Repairs previous to my purchase listen on original post).
Radiator
Water pump
Thermostat (way cooler)
Belts
Harmonic balancer (burnout broke it )
All intake gaskets
Valve cover gaskets
New standard paper air filters
Parking cable rigged
Compressor
Evaporator
Orifces
Hoses
Condensor
Heater core
Installed tranny cooler
New pull down motor for hatch
IAC valve
Tires
Steering link
Usung valvoline high mileage cut oil burn on start up in half
Cluster bulbs
Shifter linkage
Fog lights
Windshield washer pump
Vacuum lines
Pcv
The only thing to change is the block at this point lol. I drive it easy but like everyone, I like to hop on that v8 some
Unfortunately after three years of ownership I had to sell it. I got in a slow speed front end collision and decided my money would be spent better on a new project. The car worked fine but because of how it hit the other car, it ripped the bumper off by the license plate bracket and tore it up. I sold it to someone with a 84 firebird with the same body pieces so he can have a v8 car. I have to part ways but I do have my eyes on an 86 Corvette which has the key components I wanted to do in this with a 350 and standard transmission
Thanks everyone. Just a reminder to myself to be ever more careful on the road. I did however end up getting the 86 Vette so I’ve been in love with that recently
where's the 3rd brake light?? 
I'm about 3 grand into it now and I don't mind spending it. Want to keep as many f bodies around. 
(and it needed 3k worth of work)
)
